Many regard an artist’s change of genre as an ultimate move of selling out. They think that it is nothing but an attempt to find the market that will support them more.

Others think it means an artist is “growing up” or “evolving”. After all, we all do it. It may not be about our music or our art but we do change our genre in some form or the other.

There is also that segment that thinks it is a display of an artist’s range, a proof that he cannot be boxed into something, a rebellion against expectations.

What do you think?

10. Vanilla Ice

Genre Changes: Rap, Hardcore Hip Hop

Vanilla Ice was a rapper in the early 90s who became popular after ripping off lyrics and music samples from other bands and claiming them as his own. The most popular single he ever had is Ice Ice Baby which made Vanilla Ice a one-hit wonder. His career took a nose dive when he did “Ninja Rap” for the movie Mutant Ninja Turtles.

A few years later, Vanilla Ice returned to the music scene, only this time he was angry… and sported dreadlocks… and even more tattoos. In 2009, he released a video apologizing for making us listen to all his crap over the past years. He said that the studio shaped his image and it happened too fast for him. He didn’t even realize how the public look at him until it was too late.

Too late to apologize buddy.

9. Dhani Harrison

Alright, let’s get it out of the way. Dhani is George Harrison’s son. George Harrison was a member of The Beatles. The Beatles is one of the, if not the, greatest band of all time. Yes, you can hear his father in his voice, they are almost identical that it’s creepy. Yes, he is a splitting image of his dad that it’s creepy. Yes, he is in his 30s while his dad was 14 when he joined The Beatles. Yes, he is highly influenced by his Dad’s music. In fact he said, “There’s reference to everything he’s done in everything that I’ve done because he’s my dad, we were best friends, we grew up playing music together. And if anyone claims he hasn’t been influenced by them (The Beatles) at some point, they’re probably lying.” Okay?

Now, remember that it is unfair for anyone to be compared to The Beatles. It’s just unfair for ANYONE, especially for the sons. The Beatles was the best for the love of gawd so stop it and let’s just give these guys a chance, the same way we give other artists a chance. No more, no less.

I’m done ranting, I can proceed to the topic.

Dhani’s first band was (or is, I’m not sure if they are still together) called thenewno2 (pronounced The New Number Two). Their sound was, uh, psychedelic rock. If you listen to their first two singles “Yomp” (I’m not even sure if Yomp was a single but whatever) and “Another John Doe”, you’ll realize how psychedelic they can get.

Then, last year he, Joseph Arthur and Ben Harper formed A Fistful of Mercy which they claim was unplanned. His sound is a bit more easy rock.

8. Lil Wayne

Genre Changes: Hip Hop, Rock,

Lil Wayne decided to switch things up for his next album, Rebirth, and rock it out instead. He said he just felt like it.

7. David Grohl

Dave Grohl gave Nirvana the louder, heavier sound that the band was missing in their first album, Bleach. Nirvana quickly became one of the biggest bands of the early 90s until the unfortunate death of Kurt Cobain.

Grohl decided to move from grunge to, uh, pop (I’m sure many of you castigate me for using that word) rock. Not, only that. He also switched instruments. He gave up the sticks and picked up the mic and guitar.

It doesn’t end there for Dave as he has helped many other bands (Queens of the Stone Age, Nine Inch Nails, Tenacious D, The Prodigy to name a few) in a multitude of genres.

6. Chris Cornell

Genre Changes: Grunge, Rock, Pop

Chris Cornell’s best years was with grunge rock band, Soundgarden. For almost a decade, they crawled through the underground scene. They hit it big with Superunknown was released.

By 2001, Chris became the lead singer of Audioslave.

Then in 2007, he decided to go solo.

Then, in 2009, to the shock of manyChris teamed up with Timbaland and released the pop album Scream which is a radically departure from his guitar rift heavy music that he used to play.

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